Greens hit power plant report

Page Tools

Green groups yesterday criticised an environmental impact report on the expansion of the Hazelwood power station, the provider of almost a quarter of the state's electricity.

The report barely mentioned the 85 million tonnes of greenhouse gases it is estimated will be released over the Gippsland power station's extended life. The state's top green group, Environment Victoria, has estimated this will be akin to putting an extra 20 million cars on the road for a year.

International Power Hazelwood, the owner of the power station and its mine, said the environmental effects statement was to investigate only the impacts of getting access to more coal - which it hopes will extend the life of the station from 2009 to 2031. A spokesman said the company was "dealing with" the greenhouse issue.

The Strzelecki Highway, a smaller road, a river, two creeks, 11 families, a cattery, dog kennels, 155 trees of a nationally threatened gum species and the town of Driffield will have to be moved.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Once the $380 million West Field project is over, the report said it would "leave a large void in this landscape... some 1454 hectares in area and between 100 metres and 130 metres deep".

The public can now make submissions on the effects statement and Planning Minister Mary Delahunty will appoint a panel to make a recommendation on whether the project should proceed.

International Power Hazelwood, which bought the 40-year-old plant for $2.4 billion from the Kennett government, is still negotiating with Energy Minister Theo Theophanous for access to extra coal. The State Government wants the company to agree to a reduction of 30 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over the life of the project.

Before privatisation, the State Electricity Commission of Victoria had planned to close the plant in 2005.

"Instead of trying to squeeze the last drops of life out of a dirty old power station, the Government must reject the expansion of Hazelwood," Environment Victoria's global warming campaign director, Darren Gladman, said.

The effects statement said the benefits of expansion included the continued supply of cheap power to Victoria. Closure of the station would increase wholesale prices by 20 per cent.